Tape Varicam in P2 Workflow

We have been shooting a program entirely on P2 with great results. For various reasons, we will have to add a traditional tape-based Varicam to the mix for several shoots without the luxury of a deck.

I am interested in the most time efficient means to transfer the tape-acquired footage into our tapeless workflow. Furthermore, I'm curious how to do it while preserving the individual clips created when the record button was pressed each time.

Here are some options we're considering. Your thoughts or alternatives?

1. Use HD/SDI to transfer from the tape Varicam to an HPX500 (P2). This won't preserve clips, will it?

2. Use HD/SDI to capture from the tape Varicam to a Final Cut Pro workstation. Will this preserve clips?

[Chris Elley]"1. Use HD/SDI to transfer from the tape Varicam to an HPX500 (P2). This won't preserve clips, will it?"

Nope. Not unless you start and stop the camera manually. That device takes a feed...and the only time new clips are created is when you manually start and stop the capture.

[Chris Elley]"2. Use HD/SDI to capture from the tape Varicam to a Final Cut Pro workstation. Will this preserve clips? "

Only if you Log and Capture...manually mark IN and OUT points and log each as a clip. But that should be done anyway. FUnny, most people (including me) HATE the fact that P2 makes tons of individual clips. Well, unless it was a narrative shoot. If it was a doc, we want a whole string of footage to shuttle thru.

Well, you have the camera...capture from the camera. But you can't do it with HD SDI and retain timecode, as the camera doesn't have RS-422 deck control. You can to it via firewire and all should be well.

Time code (and audio too of course) is embedded in the HD-SDI signal. Can't the Kona card figure it out? I know it asks whether it's VITC. If so it has to be coming through the video signal vs. the deck control.

I know that that SDI carries timecode, I just don't think that FCP references it. FCP needs deck control via firewire or RS-422...I think. I haven't had to try to capture from the camera, so I can't say for sure.

I wonder if the AJA VTR Exchange will read that code. That is a GREAT capture utility.